Senatorial candidate and incumbent Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero has emerged as the second preferred senatorial candidate during the mock polls at Cagayan de Oro City’s University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP).
The USTP’s mock online polls dubbed as “Sinu-sino Para sa 2022?”was conducted from February 26 to 28, and was organized by the USTP Student Government-CDO, Department of Research and Information of the University Student Government, and the USTP Society of Information Technology Enthusiasts recognized by the USTP CDO Campus.
The former senator was voted by 608 out of the 1,111 student respondents, or more than 50 percent of the total survey samples from senior high school and undergraduate students of the USTP-CDO campus.
This shows that Escudero has been a consistent favorite among college students and school personnel as indicated by surveys conducted by various schools.
Last month, the governor emerged as the number one choice for senator among respondents in the survey conducted by the Philippine Normal University- Mindanao Campus, garnering 59.46 percent of the total respondents.
Escudero also ranked No. 2 in the PNU- North Luzon campus, which is located in Alicia, Isabela, where he got the approval of 55 percent of the respondents.
He is also the No. 1 choice for senator among respondents in the survey conducted by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), which is composed of more than 1,525 member-schools.
Party-list groups that have expressed their support to his Senate comeback include Ang Probinsyano, Ang Kabuhayan, Agimat, An Waray, ARISE, BHW, BTS, Kusog Bikolano, KAPUSO-PM, and Magdalo.
The 200,000-strong Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), one of the biggest non-government organizations in the country, has also committed to campaign for Escudero.
Escudero is also included in the senatorial slate of Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Vicente Sotto III’s tandem; Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s tandem; Senator Manny Pacquiao and Rep. Lito Atienza.
President Duterte has also endorsed Escudero’s senatorial bid, saying he will play a big role in crafting laws that are essential to addressing the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor and vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio is also personally backing Escudero’s Senate bid.